"Only my father, brother and my agent knew," she explained. "When the Christmas Day episode screened, I watched it with my family on holiday in Lanzarote. I got lots of calls from friends who were extremely surprised."

Talking about Kirsty, Wareing commented: "She's very bitchy and lippy - a real stirrer who's absolutely full of herself. However, I think it's all a bit of an act. When she's on her own, you see Kirsty is more vulnerable."

Wareing said that while she has played a number of "wrong 'uns" in her career, she "wouldn't have it any other way".

"I don't want to play boring characters. With baddies like Kirsty, I get to sob, scream and really get my teeth into it," she said.